Paper-box machine



C. C. DAVIS.

PAPER BOX MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED FEB- 19, 1920.

Patentsd July 5, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I C. C. DAVIS.

PAPER BOX MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB-19, 1920 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f720ent0r- Patented ly 5, 1921.

C. C. DAVIS.

PAPER BOX MACHINE. APPLiCATlON FILED FEB- 19, 1920.-

1,383,697, Patented July 5; W219 4- SHEETSS T 3.

| Hm Ill llll! II 3)" {An lo r [72 W6225024' Wz'znas's: QM Q 06M 7 c. c.DAVIS. PAPER BOX MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB- L9, 1920.

Patenteil July 5, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Ma 7 w WW Z 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. DAVIS, OF CONTOOGOOK, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T0 KING-SBURY8t DAVIS MACHINE COMPANY, OF SOUTH COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA-TION OF NEW HAMFSHIRE.

PAPER-BOX MACHINE.

Application filed February 19, 1920. Serial No. 359,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Contoocook, in the county of Merrimack, State of NewHampshire, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inPaper-Box Machines, of which the following is a speclfication, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to machines for making pa er boxes, as forinstance machines on the order of that shown and described in the patentgranted under date of May 12, 1908, upon the application of Chas. C.Davis and Elmer W. Webster, No. 728,086. More particularly, it relatesto the means of performing, in the working of such machines, what issometimes called crimping.

The operation known as crimping consists in bending the box sides andends in wardly at an acute angle to the box bottom, so as to break thebox-blank sharplyalong the lines of the bends and thereby produce awell-defined angular shaping of the box and insure that in the completedstate thereof its side and end-flanges shall stand squarely withrelation to the box-bottom.

In the machine of Letters Patent No. 728,086, the crimping operation isprovided for by the employment of horizontally-reciprocating crimpingmembers, which by movement inward press opposite sides of the boxinward; and by making the so-called former with beveled sides whichincline upwardly and inwardly, and timing the inward movement of thecrimpers so that they press the sides of the box toward the said beveledsides of said former, bending the box-sides sharply around theacute-angled bottom edges of the former.

The invention provides simplified crimperactuating means taking theplace of the means shown and described in the Letters Patent aforesaid.One part of the invention consists in crimper-actuating means utilizingthe movements of the parts which are employed for making application ofcorner-stays, and dispensing with the employment of a separateorganization for crimper-actuation. The invention provides also novelmeans of actuating end-crimpers. It provides also for effecting thecrimping operation after the former has withdrawn from the just-formedbox, and has been or is being moved upward, thereby rendering itunnecessary to bevel the sides of the former for cooperation with thecrimpers; and What is of great importance, through the improvement'inthe timing of the movements of the parts enablingthe rate of productionof boxes to be increased materially.

The drawings show the features of the invention combined with certain ofthe parts of the corner-staying paper-box machine shown and described inthe Letters Patent aforesaid.

In the drawings Q Figure 1 shows in plan, partly in section, certain ofthe parts of the machine of such Letters Patent, together with crimpingmechanism in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical cross-section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,including certain parts which in the machine are located above thoseshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows in vertical section on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2,two of the side'- stands between which the box-blanks successively arecarried down by the downward strokes of the so-called former, and thedetents andspringswhich are attached to the said side-stands.

Fig. 1 showsin elevation the side-crimper devices at the right-hand sideof the machine, with the support therefor in vertical section.

Fig. 5 shows the same parts as Fig. 4, representing them as viewed fromthe righthand side of the machine.

Fig. 6 shows in'sideelevation one of the end-crimpers and the partswhich are more immediately associated therewith, the adjacent cross-headbeing shown in vertical cross-section.

Fig. 7 shows certain of the parts of Fig. 4, but Viewed from the frontof the machine.

Fig. 8 shows certain of the parts of Figs. 6 and 7 viewed from thesideopposite from that of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 9 shows the same parts as Fig. 8, viewed from the center of themachine.

Fig. 10 is an isometric view of a crimper and crimper-blade, and theirsupport, disassembled from one another.

Fig. 11 is a sectional View, on a larger scale than the preceding views,of the block on which a crimper is mounted in the machine.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are isometric views of crimper-blades of differentlengths.

The machine in connection with which the invention is employed inpractice may be similar in its general character and construction tothat of Letters Patent No. 728,086. The action in bending a box-blankinto the form of a box-body or cover (hereinafter called box) is asheretofore and will be apparent from Fig. 2, in which a box-blank aisshown supported upon the breaking-rods 1, 1', by means of itsside-portions resting upon the said rods. The descent of the former 2will force the blank down within the inclosure formed by the endbreakerposts 3, 3, and the side-stands 4, 4, support ing saidbreaking-rods 1, 1, thesaid breakingrods and breakerposts operatingduring the descent ofthe blank with the former to fold the side and endflanges of the blank upward against the sides of the former. The saiddescent of the former 2 carries the blank,

, now shaped like an open-topped box a, down into position to beoperated upon by the corner-staying devices. The corner-staying devices(not shown) may be on the order of those of the said Letters Patent,mounted upon the corner-blocks, herein designated 5, 5. As in suchLetters Patent, the former 2 remains inits lowest position inside thebox, while the corner-staying operations are performed, and then risesout of the box. As former 2 rises, the box a, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is heldfrom rising by catches, as 6, 6, Fig. 3. The catches 6, 6, shown are ofwell-known character and arrangement, and they operate as heretofore.They are made of slightly bowed spring-strips which occupy grooves inthe inner sides of side-stands 4, 4, the said strips being fastened attheir upper ends to the side-stands by means of bolts 7, 7, and havingtheir lower ends bent at right angles to produce shoulders suitable forengaging with the top edges of the side-flanges of the boxa so as toprevent the box from rising with the former 2. The lower portions of thecatches 6, 6, normally project inward out of the said grooves into thepath of the descending former and the box which is carried down thereby.They are deflected outward into the grooves by the former and box, butas soon as the top edges of the side-flanges of the box pass below theengaging shoulders of the catches the lower ends of the catches springinward sufficiently to enable the said shoulders to engage with the saidtop edges, so as to prevent the box from rising with the former 2. Themode of operation thus fa referred to, and that of the corner-staymechanism, are as heretofore.

In accordance with one part of the present invention the actuatingdevices of the crimpers are constructed, combined, and timed to operateto cause the crimpers to act against the upstanding flanges of thejust-formed construction of these latter, are described hereinafter.

The manner and means of supporting the empty box in position for thecrimping operation may vary in practice. In the present instance, thebox a to be crimped is supported for the said operation by means of apreviously formed and crimped box a Figs. 2 and 3, which is detainedtemporarily in p0- sition to afford such support, in this instancethrough being supported by a preceding box that is sustained, as in Fig.3, by means of spring-strips 10, 10, that are attached by their upperends to the side-stands 4, 4, these strips being bent so that theirlower ends project inward sufficiently to engage with the opposite sidesof boxes passing down be tween them. Following the crimping action uponbox a and the withdrawal of the crimpers, the follower in its nextdescent pushes down the three boxes a, a a expellingthe box a from thegrasp of the holding-springs 10, 10, moving down box a into such grasp,

and placing another newly-formed box in the place that is occupied bybox a in Figs. 1 and 3.

In order to keep the flanges of box a pressed inward so that thedescending former and box shall act squarely against the top edges ofsaid flanges, presser-springs 11, 11, Fig. 3, are secured to theside-stands 4, 4, by thebolts 7, 7, as shown in Fig. 8, in position toenable their inwardly bent lower ends to bear against the said flangesand hold them inward. Thereby telescoping and nesting of the succeedingbox withinthe box a is avoided and proper feeding of the stack a, a adownward is insured.

As in the Letters Patent aforesaid the feet 1.2, 12, Figs. 1 and 4, of.the carriers 13, 13, of the side-crimpers 8, 8, mounted in guideways inblocks 12*, 1.2 upon supporting rails 18, 18, are connected by pitmen14, 14, to crank-pins 15, 15, upon crank-disks 16, 1G, to which at theproper times a movement of oscillation is given for the purpose ofpushing the said side-crimpers inward. to perform the crimping of theside-flanges of the box and then retract them into their outward, idleposition. The oscillating crankalisks constitute, essentially, actuatingrockers for the side-crimpers. .Nhen

rocked in one direction, they actuate the side-crimpers to cause theworking strokes of the latter; when rocked in the opposite direction,they actuate the side-crimpers to cause the withdrawing strokes thereof.

Referring now to that part of the invention which relates to theimproved means for actuating the said side-crimpers: As shown in Figs.2, 4 and 5, the crank-disks 16, 16, are fixed upon the upper ends ofupright rockshafts 17, 17 carrying at their lower ends, below theside-plates 18, 18, in which the said rockshafts 17, 17, are journaled,collars 19, 19, furnished with ou wardly-projecting pins 20, 20, Figs.1, 2, 3 and 4, with which are engaged contracting spiral springs 21, 21,shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. By the action of the said springs, theparts are held normally with the sidecrimpers 8, 8, inoutwardly-retracted positions. The side-crimpers are actuated to producethe working, i. 6., inward, strokes thereof by means of certain elementsof the stay-applying mechanism; thus, the crankdisks 16, 16, arefurnished with upwardlyprojecting pins 22, 22, and for cofiperation withthe said pins 22, 22, the cam-slotted plates 23, 23, of the rear sets ofcornerstaying devices have attached thereto rods 24, 24, carryingadjustable collars 25, 25, arranged to engage with such pins. Theillustrated embodiment of the invention is arranged to cause suchengagement to take place in the outgoing movement of the slides 23, 23.As in said Letters Patent the slides 23, 23, have formed therein thecam-slots 26, 26, receiving the rolls 27, 27, of the radiallymovablepresser and cutter members of the rear sets of corner-stay devices. Theoutgoing movement of the cam-plates 23, 23, at

the completion of the corner-staying operations causes the collars 25,25, to engage the pins 22, 22, and turn the crank-disks 16, 16, so as tooccasion inward movement of the side-crimpers and the crimping of theside'- fianges of the box. As the slotted camplates are moved inward toproduce the corner-staying operations in connection with the boxnext-formed, the springs 21, 21, turn the crank-disks 16, 16, reverselyso as to withdraw the side-crimpers outwardly. The collars 25, 25, aremade adjustable along the carrying-rods 24, 24, therefor, so thatthrough engaging with the pins 22, 22, earlier or later in the outgoingmovements of the cam-plates 23, 23, they may produce inward movements ofthe side-crimpers of the required extent. In the present instance,

. the collars 25, 25, are split collars or blocks which are clamped uponthe rods 24, 24, by means of thumb-screws 28, 28. By actuating the sidecrimpers through simple con nections with the slotted cam-plates of thecorner-staying mechanisms at one end of the machine, I am enabled todispense with the employment of a separate organized train of actuatingmechanism on the order of that shown and described in the former LettersPatent.

Referring now to the end-crimpers 9, 9, and the means for actuating thesame: These are shown separately in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9. A supportingblock 29, Figs/7 and 8, in connection with the upright carrier 29 of anend-crimper is mounted to slide in a direction lengthwise of the machineupon a guide-bar 30 supported from one of the corner-blocks 5 at thecorresponding end of the machine. The inward or working stroke of theend-crimper is derived from the reciprocating cross-head 31 at such endof the machine through the employment of What for the purposes of thisspecification may be termed a rocker, which is actuated by the saidcross-head in the outgoing movement of the latter. This rocker consistsin the present instance of a lever 33 which is pivoted upon a pin 33projecting from an upstanding arm 34 in connection with the saidguide-bar 30, the lower arm of the lever 33 being engaged with the block29 of the end-crimper carrier by means of a pin'29 on said lower armworking in a vertical groove 29, Fig. 8, in the said block,

hook 32, Figs. land 6, carried by the cross- 7 .head engages with a pin33 projecting from the upper arm of such lever, and rocks the latter soas to produce movement of the end-crimper inward. Theoutward orretracting movement of an end-crimper after the crimping operation iscaused by means of a contracting spiral spring 35 which is engaged witha pin 36 carried by the end crimper carrier 29 and with a pin 38 carriedby the outer end of guide-bar 30. V

This organization provides simply and conveniently for the requiredactuation of the respective end-crimpers.

The extent of the working stroke of either end-crimper may be adjustedby longitudinal adjustment of the hook 32, such longi- .tudinaladjustment being provided for by means of the slot 32, Figs. 1 and 6, inthe stem of the clamping screw 39 which cooperates with the nut 39*,Fig. 6, in clamping said hook 2 at the under side of the cross-head 31.For the connection of an end-crimper with an adjacent corner block 5 asmall block 141-is mounted upon a stud 142 projecting downward from thesaid corner-block. The small block 141 is fixed upon the stud by meansof a clamping-screw 41 The block is held from turning around the stud bymeans of a pin 42 projecting from the stud and entering anotch in theupper portion of the block. It is grooved horizontally at one sidethereof, as shown best in Fig. 6, to

receive a horizontally extending flat arm 43 projecting outward from theguide-bar 30. A cap-plate 44 held to block 141 by bolts 44, 44, keepsthe arm 43 in the groove of the block 141 and a thumb-screw 45 appliedto block 141 engages with the said arm 43 to hold the supportingguide-bar 30, and the endcrimper which is mounted thereon, in therequired position of adjustment transversely of the machine.

The lower portions of the crimpers 8, 9, engage with the box-flanges inthe crimping operation to effect the crimping. The inner faces of thecrimpers above the said acting portions incline upwardly and outwardly,as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. These inclined faces insure againstbreakage in case one of the crimpers should stick inan inward position.Insuch event the former 2 in descending will act upon the inclined faceof the misplaced'crimper in a manner causing it to move outward, out ofthe way of the former.

The crimpers are mounted upon their carriers 18, 29, with capacity forvertical adjustment to place them in proper relationship with the.box-flanges upon which they are to operate, and also are detachablycombined with said carriers. The vertical adjustment is provided for byconnecting each crimper 8 and 9 with a carrier-piece 13 or 29 which isfixed to the carrier 13 or 29 by means of a bolt and wing-nut 13 or 29,with a longitudinal slot 13 Fig. 5, or 29,

i 7, in the upstanding portion of the carrier receiving the stem of the.bolt and permitting the carrier-piece to be shifted up or down asdesired. The detachability is provided for by furnishing the upstandingportion of each carrier with a projection or block 40, Figs. 6 to 10,adapted to serve as a rest or support for a crimper. To provide againstdisplacement of the crimper, its base is furnished with a projectingdowel or pin 41,

r shown best in Fig. 10, and the projection or block-40 is formed with ahole 42 into which said dowel or pin is entered in mounting the crimperupon the stand. Accidental rise of the crimper is provided against bycom bining with the projection or block 40 a ball 48, Fig. 11, backed upby a spring 44 and screw 45. The screw, spring, and ball occupy atransverse hole in the projection or block, and the ball projects partlyinto the vertical hole 42 so as to bear against dowel or pin 41 when thelatter is inserted into hole 42. The pressure of the ball against thedowel or pin tends to hold the crimper against accidental rise from itsseat, but does not interfere with application or removal of the crimper.

Preferably the crimpers 8 and'9 are of a width suitable for the smallestsize of box intended to be made upon the machine, and

for use in crimping larger boxes I provide extension crimper-blades 5,Z), etc. These blades are of varied length, as indicated most clearly byFigs. 10 and 12 to 14. blade of the length required for any given sizeof box is applied to a crimper stand by being inserted betweenprojection or block 40- and the base of the crimper, as shown in thedraw ings'. Each crimper-blade has a' hole 5 through which dowel or pin41 of the crimper passes into the hole 42 in the projection or block tokeep the blade from displacement.

The feature of mounting the end-crimpers upon supports attached tocorner-blocks of the corner-stay mechanism has the advantage that itsimplifies the adjustments that are necessary in adapting the machinefor different sizes of boxes. That is to say, adjustment of thecorner-blocks to suit boxes of different lengths from end to end effectsat the same time the shift of the end-crimpers that is required toaccommodate the said dif-- ference in length. Differences in the widthof the boxes entailing adjustment of the corner-blocks of one side ofthe machine toward or from those of the other side thereof iscompensated for by transverse shift of the end-crimpers relative to theparticular corner-blocks by which they are supported,

in order to position the end-crimpers equidistant between the two sidesof a box. This compensating adjustment is accomplished by manipulationof the thumb-screws 45, 45, and

shift of the arms 43, 43, endwise relative to the blocks 41, 41. As inthe former Letters Patent, the mounting of the side-crimpers uponsupports in connection with the trans V versely-adjustable side-rails ofthe machine renders independent adjustment of the side crimpersunnecessary when the machine parts are adjusted for a different width ofbox.

Crimper devices of the construction described with reference to Figs. 4to 14 may be combined in some cases in practice with other constructionsand arrangements of operat ing connections. In some cases,crimperdevices constructed and actuated as herein shown and describedmay be employed for crimping the boxes at a level below that at' whichthe corner-stay operations are performed and the last-formed box isstripped from the former.

WVhat is claimed as the invention is,

1. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices andcornerstay applying mechanism, of means providing for supporting thelast-formed box at the level at which the corner-staying is effectedafter withdrawal of the former therefrom, and crimper devices whichperform the crimping operation upon the sides of the empty box while thesame remains at such level.

2. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices, andyielding V holding means for the formed boxes through which the formedboxes are pushed by the action of the'former in forming subsequentboxes, of crimpers, and means for actuattion with box-forming devices,and cornerstay applying mechanism, of crimpers actuated by saidcorner-stay mechanism to act upon the box-flanges. V

5. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices, andcornerstay applying mechanism including an actuating reciprocatingcross-head, of crimpers for opposite .sides of a box and means foractuating said crimpers from said crosshead.

6. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices,corner-stay applying mechanism including opposite actuatingreciprocating cross-heads, boxflange crimpers, and means for actuatingthe respective crimpers from the respective cross-heads.

7. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices,corner-stay applying mechanism including opposite actuatingreciprocating cross-heads, boxflange crimpers for the ends and sides ofthe box, means for actuating opposite crimpers from the respectivecross-heads, and means for actuating the remaining crimpers from one ofthe said cross-heads.

8. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices, andcornerstay applying mechanism including a reciprocating cross-headserving to actuate such mechanism, of crimpers at opposite sides of abox, rockers connected with said crimpers, and means actuated by saidcross-head for actuating said rockers.

9. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices, andcornerstay applying devices, of crimpers at opposite sides of a box,rockers connected with said crimpers, and a common actuator for saidcorner-stay devices and crimpers.

10. In a paper-box machine, the combina tion withbox-forming devices,corner-stay applying devices for adjacent corners of a box, and acrimper which acts upon the boxflange between such corners, of a commonactuator for the said corner-stay devices and crimpers.

11. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices,and cornerstay applying mechanism including an actuating reciprocatingcross-head, of crimpers at opposite sides of a box, rockers connectedwith said crimpers, and rods actuated by said cross-head and providedwith means for actuating said rockers.

12. In a paperbox machine,fthe combination withboX-formin'g devices, andcorner stay applying mechanism including an actuating reciprocatingcross-head, of crimpers at opposite sides 7' of a box, rockers connectedwith said crimpers, and rods actuatedbysaid cross-head and provided withrocker-actuators adjustable in the direction of the length of the rods.

13. In a paper-box machine, the combinationwith a box-flange crimpermounted for reciprocating movement, of an operating rocker provided witha crank which is connected to said crimper, a spring acting to hold thecrimper normally in retracted position, and an adjustable reciprocatingactuator by which saidrocker is rocked to operate the crimper against abox-flange.

1 1. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices,and cornerstay mechanism including a .camslotted reciprocating plate, ofa box-flange crimper, a rocker connected with-said crimper andspring-actuated to .keep thev crimper normally in retracted position,"and a rockeractuator connected with said cam-slotted plate.

15. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices,and cornerstay mechanism including a cam-slotted reciprocating plate, ofa box-flange crimper, a rocker connected with said crimper andspring-actuated to keep the crimper normally in retracted position, arod connected with said cam-slotted plate, and a rockeractuatoradjustable lengthwise of said rod.

16. In a paper-box machine, the combination with a box-flange crimpermounted for reciprocating movement, of an operating lever which isconnected to said crimper, a spring acting to hold the crimper normallyin retracted position, and a reciprocating actuator by which said leveris rocked to operate the crimper against a box-flange.

17 In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devices, andcornerstay devices including corner-blocks adjustable to suit differentsizes of boxes, of a boxflange crimper mounted upon one of saidcorner-blocks, and means for actuating the same.

18. In a paper-box machine, in combination, box-flange crimpers,radially-movable carriers for said crimpers, means for adjusting thecrimpers vertically on said carriers, and actuating means for thecarriers.

19. In a paper-box machine, the combination with box-forming devicesincluding a reciprocating former, of box-flange crimping devicesincluding a crimper having an upwardly and outwardly inclined surfaceagainst which the descending former may act to effect outward shift ofthe crimper if inwardly misplaced.

20. In a paper-box machine, incombination, a radially-movablecrimper-carrier, a crimper-rest thereon having a socket, and a crimperadapted to be detachably applied to said rest and having a dowel-pinwhich enters the said socket. Y

21. In a paper-box machine, incombination, a radially-movable crimpercarrier, a crimper-rest thereon having a socket, and a crimper adaptedto be detachably applied to said rest and having a dowel-pin whichenters the said socket, with a detent for removably holding saiddowel-pin in said socket.

22. In a paper-box machine, in combination, a radially-movablecrimper-carrier, a crimper, and a crimper-extension adapted to beapplied detachably to said carrier.

23. In a paper-box machine, in combination, a radially-movablecrimper-carrier, a crimper-rest, a crimper mounted upon said rest, and acrimper-extension adapted to be mounted detachably between the crimperand the crimper-rest.

2%. In a paper-box machine, in combination, a radially-movablecrimper-carrier, a crimper-rest thereon having a socket, a'

crimper adapted to be applied detachably to said rest and having adowel-pin which enters the said socket, and a crimper-extension adaptedto be placed between the crimper and the crimper-rest and having a holein which the dowel-pin engages to hold the crimper-extension in place.

25. In a paper-box machine, in combination, box-forming devicesincluding a reciprocating former and a guideway within which the boxesare stacked as formed, one succeeding another, and through which thestack is moved by the action of the former, and presser-members by whichthe flanges of the last preceding box are pressed inward to prevent thenewly-formed box from telescoping and nesting therein. v

26. In a paper-box machine, in combination, box-forming devicesincluding a reciprocating former and a guideway within which the boxesare stacked as formed, one succeeding another, detents for holding thelast-formed box from accompanying the former in its withdrawingmovement, and

pressers by which the flanges of such box are pressed inward to preventthe next box from telescoping and nesting therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES C. DAVIS.

